South Australian Artist, Writer, Video Producer and Animator, David Arandle working under the pseudonym 'The Extraordinary Tourist' or 'TET' for short, blogs about Art, Life, Social Issues, humor, Internet/Technology, Movies, Entertainment, World Issues, Business, People/Places and more.

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Movie: The Grand Budapest Hotel

The Grand Budapest Hotel features an all star cast and tells the story of Gustave H, a legendary concierge at the famous European hotel between the wars, and Zero Moustafa, the lobby boy who becomes his most trusted friend.

Their story includes the theft and recovery of a priceless painting and the battle for an enormous family fortune.

Although this is a fun film for anyone who enjoys a tall tale with slightly dark and odd ball humor I would highly recommend this as a great film to study for aspiring film makers.

Packed full of old school effects and scale models, that give the film a unique style, proving that you don't need flashy CGI... just a really good art department. Very inspirational to film makers in that regard.

Beyond that, the trailer, I thought, presented a film that I expected to be more laugh out loud funny however the film's humor is a little darker and a bit more subtle.

In particular I'll go and see a film on the strength of Bill Murray being in it. Sadly he barely says much at all here and doesn't get much screen time to do anything other than fill a role that could have gone to anyone.

Edward Norton is usually someone to watch too. Whilst he is used well here, and he gets a lot to do, his part could have gone to anyone with the right look.

Fortunately the film is carried well by the main players, Ralph Fiennes as Gustave H and Tony Revolori as his long suffering but trusted co-collaborating lobby boy, Zero. Two characters that you really do latch on to and hope it all works out.

Willem Dafoe also puts in a very memorably scary performance as Jopling - I'd go so far as to say Willem was born to play the role - which doesn't have a lot of dialogue but his character certainly has a presence that is very much enhanced by his performance.

Overall, The Grand Budapest Hotel tells such a charming and intriguing story in such a way that you'll likely forgive any short comings like the actor you went to see it for having very little screen time.

It's a little edgy and dark but not so dark you'll be offended or put off. It has an interesting style that seems to hark back to movie making of a by gone era but still seems very contemporary.

Most of all, you'll have a good time watching the misadventures of the legendary concierge, Gustave H and his lobby boy, Zero.

2 comments:

The only names I'm familiar with are Bill Murray and Jude Law, but I haven't watched him in much. Edward Norton sounds a bit familiar. I might know some faces. With the title I thought they were trying to cash in on The Marigold Hotel.

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